Ever fancied trying ice climbing? Or maybe you know nothing about it! In this post I will introduce you to the basics of ice climbing and show you how I got on at my very first session.

I’ve started trying to say yes to many more things – stuff I’d normally umm and err over, tell someone I’d get back to them about, then never bother getting back in touch. I now just say yes then figure it all out afterwards. That’s just how I came to try ice rock climbing this week!

Read on for all the info you need as a beginner ice climber PLUS watch the icy cool video I made on the GoPro Hero 6 of my session!

The secret is out – the past few months I’ve been working hard around my job and blog to qualify as a Level 2 Gym Instructor! It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years but was worried how I’d be able to fit the work in – but really it’s a completely manageable course as long as you’re willing to devote a couple of hours to it.

I did mine with Lifetime Training and will continue on to my Level 3 with them (I’ll cover the decision-making process for the fitness provider in another post) so I thought I’d cover the process on my blog for anyone else who’s feeling nervous about doing the course. As ever, any further questions please feel free to comment here, on my social media, or send me an email, but for now read on for my tips on becoming a Level 2 Gym Instructor.

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The swing is an amazing workout, targeting the glutes, hamstrings and back, plus the cardiovascular system – but if that’s all you’ve been doing with a kettlebell, you’re missing out!

From building functional strength to working on endurance and even mobility, the humble kettlebell has a lot to offer. You could start with these 9 movements, then as you get more confident start to sub them in for barbells to work on unilateral strength, or even create your own movements to target your needs and weaknesses.

Read on to hear my 9 best kettlebell workout movements and watch a video of how to do them!

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Ever gotten a little dramatic or over-emotional over a workout? I know I have, and it can take me into a spiral of self-doubt and wondering why I bother exercising in the first place. “Why do I have to do this to myself?”, I think, as I angrily throw a barbell to the floor.

These lapses in motivation are nothing compared to what some people face – yet they still fight hard to train. They’ve overcome adversity like few of us have known and never use it as an excuse.

In this post I’ve compiled five of the videos that have really changed my perspective on working out. Yes, sometimes things are tough and workouts can hurt – but some people would kill for the opportunity to move their bodies in the way that I can, and these videos help remind me of this.

As you watch these videos, remember this – you don’t have to do it. You get to do it.

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You’ve seen it on Instagram and heard that your friend from work likes to go every night, but you might still be a little confused as to what CrossFit actually is.

CrossFit has been around as an exercise programme since 2000, but with the wellness boom of recent years it’s been growing in popularity more than ever. Here, I detail what exactly CrossFit is, along with common questions like how much it costs, what the abbreviations mean, and how to start CrossFit.

I hope this post answers your questions, but if there’s anything I don’t cover, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll answer for you.

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Underground beneath a busy Covent Garden street, the ultimate fantasy land for anyone into functional fitness is hidden away. Power racks lined up with bumper plates neatly stacked, the créme de la créme of gym toys with all premium names like Wattbike and Keiser, along with some other fancy-looking equipment that even I don’t know what it is – but I’m about to find out!

I was invited along to Performance Ground London to try out their performance assessment service – being someone who likes to seek out their weaknesses to work on them I jumped at the chance to go along. I was in London for work anyway, however this ‘work’ thing was a rather boozy event the night before my assessment, so I probably wasn’t quite as switched on for the assessment as I should’ve been.

Adding in my sprained ankle I felt like a withered version of myself – nevertheless I gave the assessment a good go in order to review it for you, dear reader! Read on to find out what happens in the assessment, how it’s applied to programming, and also how you can get yourself a place on an upcoming Performance Ground workshop.

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I was invited to do the Performance Ground assessment for free, and I also receive a small percentage of any workshop purchases made via the link. My opinion will never be bought and I only work with brands I believe in.

The newbie gains come thick and fast when you first start CrossFit, but unfortunately they don’t last forever…

A year down the line things start to plateau and PBs are fewer and farther between. When I watch CrossFitters walking on their hands and repping out muscle-ups (heck, even repping out pull-ups) I still feel very new to the sport – despite having been doing it over two years now – although something that does remind me that I’m not so green anymore is my lack of newbie gains: that is, every time I go into the box I’m not hitting new PBs like you do in those golden first months of CrossFit. Even though we’re all supposed to be doing this sport for fun, it can get you down and you may not be that happy-go-lucky CrossFitter you were when you were PBing every week!

I’ve switched up my training strategy of late and last week I finally added 5kg onto my split jerk after being stuck on a plateau for a year. Hooray! That doesn’t mean the spell is broken and the hard work is over – I’m consistently working on a few different strategies to ensure I continue to progress in CrossFit. Read on to find out what I’ve been trying to finally smash through my plateau now my newbie gains are well and truly over.

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Welcome to That Squat Bot! I'm Sarah, and I run fast, lift heavy, and eat hard.

I'm a CrossFitter with a love for Olympic weightlifting (but a dislike of burpees). I'm a big eater and am always trying to cook up healthy and interesting meals. Constantly working towards becoming the best version of myself!

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Disclosure Policy

Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.

Occasionally I get sent products for review or work with brands on a mutually beneficial basis; this will be made clear in the post and will have an asterisk (*) next to any gifted items. My opinion is honest and will never be bought. Read the full disclosure policy here.